For anyone who enjoys watching live auctions, the Tattersalls December Mare Sale is going on over the next three days. It’s kind of the UK/Ireland equivalent of the November breeding stock sales, though it’s mares only (weanlings have their own sale). Most are sold as broodmares/broodmare prospects, but some are offered still in training. At this moment there is a consignment of Juddmonte mares going through; good families, no doubt, but everyone knows Juddmonte keep their best so it will be interesting to see what they bring.
The difference in style from the US sales is noteworthy. Instead of standing more or less stationary in front of the auctioneer’s podium, the horses are paraded around a small central enclosure, with seating on the outside.
The auctioneer’s patter is different as well. There’s no “humminahummina” filler between bids, and some of them have a distinctly personalized style. If the winning bidder is known, they’ll often be called out as such: “…to Godolphin”.
One thing I like is they’re so much faster updating the results, usually within 5 minutes of the final bid.
And oh yeah - currency is in guineas, because tradition. 1 guinea = 1 pound 1 shilling.
